Be Prepared For Any Old Thing

What's the Scout motto? That's right, "Be Prepared. " Can anyone tell me where it came from? Well, it was started by a man who founded the Scouting movement almost 80 years ago. His name was Robert Baden-Powell. He was an English general who took the first Scouts camping back in 1907. He was a most interesting man. If you're curious about him, you can learn a little by reading page 475 of your handbook.

Baden-Powell was once asked what the motto meant. What is a Scout supposed to be prepared for?

"Why any old thing," Baden-Powell replied.

That's a tall order. Life holds a lot of surprises and we can't be prepared for all of them. But in Scouting you're learning how to handle many surprises and crises. You learn how to give first aid, how to live comfortably outdoors, give service to your community and nation, clean up your environment, do good Turns for people and a host of other things. Later this month we're going to talk about being prepared to make choices between right and wrong, too.

Preparing you for life is what Scouting is all about. We're going to do our best to make you prepared for any old thing.